Summary:

On 4 October 2024, hundreds of protestors joined a march and protest in downtown Tunis following a call from the Tunisian Network for Freedoms and Rights to denounce what they view as an illegitimate electoral process. 

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The main concerns of the protestors stemmed from the exclusion of serious candidates, the amendment of electoral law days prior to the election, and the repression of opposition activists and journalists through legal action. 

Security forces were present in large numbers to contain the protests and block the road leading to the Ministry of Interior on Avenue Habib Bourguiba. Security forces appeared to comply with instructions to avoid violence and provocations, while protest leaders also discouraged escalation.   

The protest was followed later in the evening by a demonstration, also on Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis, organized by supporters of President Kais Saied to celebrate the success of his electoral campaign and counter the messages delivered earlier by the opposition. 

Outlook: 

The presidential election has become increasingly controversial and with the potential for various legal challenges and protests to emerge following the official results, leading to more serious security implications. Habib Bourguiba Avenue downtown and the Parliament neighborhood in Bardo continue to be protest hotspots. 

As various protests are likely to continue, the threat remains for clashes between police and protestors and between various blocs of citizens who are either for or against President Kais Saied.

Actively monitoring events in Tunis and elsewhere will be essential during the coming days particularly if protests continue over multiple days. Organizations should have contingency plans ready in the event this scenario occurs. 

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